Chapter 4
My Biggest Surprise


P.E. was Doyle’s third period class. He had to think quickly so he ran into the lunch room and begged Candy, the head lunch lady, for a carton of milk. He said his stomach was upset and he needed to drink a little to settle him down.
“I thought you were lactose intolerant,” Candy said. “I know I’ve heard you tell me that before.”
“Oh I used to be but I outgrew it and besides I have medicine. I only need a little.” He threw a dollar bill on the cash drawer and ran out before he got his change back and quickly hustled to his first period class.
Mrs. Kuyoth, his English teacher, didn’t fuss when Doyle came in late. After all he was her best student; the one she could always count on him to get his work done. He was her best writer and one of the few that always did his homework. She took an immediate liking to him because he would occasionally tell her how much he enjoyed her lessons.
“Today, for your bell work class, “ Mrs. Kuyoth said, “I’d like you to journal about your biggest surprise.”
Brooke raised her hand and asked, “How long does it have to be Miss?”
“Just worry about the content and not the length,” Mrs. Kuyoth said.
Several in the class were talking and didn’t hear the assignment.
One girl said, “I don’t get it. I don’t know what to do.”
Mrs. Kuyoth said, “Oh course you don’t just look at the overhead and get busy. Write about your biggest surprise.”
Robert Stout wrote about Chandler Wright, a girl he had a crush on. He wrote about all the things he loved about her and how surprised he was when he asked her out and she said, “Yes.”
Bella, a skater chick, began writing about her new skateboard and how she learned a new trick. Her big surprise was that she was able to do it.
Doyle initially wanted to write about how pleased and surprised he was that he found the pen shields for such a good price at Office Department but then decided to write about how disappointed he was because the latest Power Rangers episode looked so fake. He thought they were beginning to all look the same.
Kaitlyn said she was going to write about her new I-phone. She began by explaining that she expected she would get one for Christmas but instead her big surprise was that she got it early because she made an A on her report card. Her grades usually weren’t that good and her parents were proud of her A in P.E. so they naturally rewarded her.
Kayelyn who wanted to be included in Kaitlyn and Whitney’s popular group leaned over to Whitney and said, “Why don’t you write about what happened a couple of weeks ago?”
Whitney said, “Oh you mean when Taiwan was caught in the girls dressing room?
Kayelyn said, “Yes, it was so embarrassing I thought I would die. Thank goodness no one had gotten undressed before he got caught. I don’t think I would have ever been able to look him in the eyes again.”
Whitney said, “Thanks you just gave me an idea. I was going to write about the pink and purple sequin shoes I found at Shoescape but now I’ll write about when Dontavious prank called 911 and when we had a lock down all during third period. It cost him the rest of his football season and he got suspended but he said it was worth it. I was surprised he gave up something he loved so much for just a moment of attention.”
“I don’t think he expected to get caught and kicked off the team. He said he had a reputation to maintain. He didn’t want anything to think of him as a nerd so he had to do something to make people think he was still cool since his grades were improving and he was acting nice in class,” replied Kaitlyn.
Kaelyn said, “Yeah I thought he was wierding out on us and changing into a nerd there for a little while. This school doesn’t need another Doyle.”
The girls all laughed and then began writing a little and talking a lot.
As the class ended Doyle’s problems began.